Kristin Lavransdatter interweaves political, social,
and religious history with the daily aspects of family life to create a
colorful, richly detailed tapestry of Norway during the fourteenth-century. The
trilogy, however, is more than a journey into the past. Undset's own life—her
familiarity with Norse sagas and folklore and with a wide range of medieval
literature, her experiences as a daughter, wife, and mother, and her deep
religious faith—profoundly influenced her writing. Her grasp of the connections
between past and present and of human nature itself, combined with the
extraordinary quality of her writing, sets her works far above the genre of
"historical novels." This new translation by Tiina Nunnally—the first
English version since Charles Archer's translation in the 1920s—captures
Undset's strengths as a stylist. Nunnally, an award-winning translator, retains
the natural dialog and lyrical flow of the original Norwegian, with its echoes
of Old Norse legends, while deftly avoiding the stilted language and false
archaisms of Archer's translation. In addition, she restores key passages left
out of that edition.

Undset's ability to present a meticulously accurate
historical portrait without sacrificing the poetry and narrative drive of
masterful storytelling was particularly significant in her homeland. Granted
independence in 1905 after five hundred years of foreign domination, Norway was
eager to reclaim its national history and culture. Kristin Lavransdatter became
a touchstone for Undset's contemporaries, and continues to be widely read by
Norwegians today. In the more than 75 years since it was first published, it
has also become a favorite throughout the world.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic
literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles,
Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout
history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to
provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished
scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Please join us as we begin a NEW Discussion of 2nd Corinthians this fall.

We will read aloud from 2nd Corinthians, share our responses with the group, and discuss application to our community following a guided study (Kerygma Program - http://www.kerygma.com/ ).

Our 14 meetings for this book are twice per month on Tuesday evenings. Interested in joining the discussions? Wish to know more about the discussion group? By Monday September 12, please contact Ken Bencala.

Second Corinthians: Living Letters in Christ

We could be forgiven for thinking that Paul's gospel message was fully formed from the moment he started writing letters to expanding churches. It's not until we spend some time with him as he contends with threats on every side that we appreciate the growth of his personal theological understanding. Out of this crucible of danger, deceit and despair recorded in 2nd Corinthians comes Paul's most profound statements of discipleship, ministry and calling, and faithfulness and service to the truth he finds in Jesus Christ. We experience Paul as he is: His writing is at times raw and at others rejoicing; scolding; begging; enticing his brothers and sisters in Christ to become living letters honoring God with every fiber of their being.Paul is at the breaking point as he is confronted by misunderstandings that are compounded by distance, and by new super-apostles showing up in Corinth fueling speculation about his worthiness to preach the gospel. All he has worked for to bring God glory is now at stake! In desperation, he digs deep into new theological ground, and ultimately provides readers with impassioned statements about being called from humility into power and grace.14 Sessions

Contents:

Paul and His World

Corinth: Beachhead West

Gifts with Strings

Ministry of the New Covenant

Ministry of Righteousness

Body Language and a Ministry of Suffering

Ministry of Reconciliation

Braggart Warrior

Braggart Fool

The Fool's Speech

Postscript to Fool's Speech

Reconciling Letter – Part 1

Reconciling Letter – Part 2

Round Robin Letter

Eminent Pauline scholar Calvin Roetzel is your capable guide
for this important study. He takes readers through the twists and turns of
scholarly thinking on the structure of 2nd Corinthians, all the while
unraveling the knots, to lay before us the hidden—but logical—order to the
chapters. He skillfully brings to life a time of deepest stress in Paul's
ministry.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Please join us as we begin a NEW Discussion of 1st Corinthians this spring.

We will read aloud from 1st Corinthians, share our responses with the group, and discuss application to our community following a guided study (Kerygma Program - http://www.kerygma.com/ ).

Our 14 meetings for this book are twice per month on Tuesday evenings. Interested in joining the discussions? Wish to know more about the discussion group? By Monday February 22, please contact Ken Bencala.

First Corinthians: One in Christ

Resource Book by
Robert Bryant - The Kerygma Program

Set amid the intensely modern and cosmopolitan world of Corinth, where philosophy and mystery abound, Paul’s first letter to that church speaks clearly to us still today.So many foundational scripture passages, familiar to most by reference to chapter and verse alone, are found in this first letter to the Corinthians. The "Love Chapter," "the body is a temple," "the body requires a variety of members," and the words of institution for the Lord's Supper may immediately spring to mind. No Bible study group should miss spending time with Paul as he instructs this troublesome congregation on how to "walk the talk" as well as tackling hot button topics that remain with the church today:

the role of women in the church

sexual purity

marriage and divorce

Paul offers concrete examples of how a believer’s thoughts are affected by genuine faith in Christ. Having the "mind of Christ" affects the way we value ourselves, others, and the world in which we live. It does not generate selfishness, fear, or factionalism. The mind of Christ radiates humility and peace — individually and corporately.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Please join us as we begin a NEW Discussion of The Book of
Revelation in late summer.

We will read aloud from The Book of Revelation, share our
responses with the group, and discuss application to our community following a guided
study (Kerygma Program - http://www.kerygma.com/ ).

Our 14 meetings for this book are twice per month on Tuesday
evenings. Interested in joining the discussions? Wish to know more about the
discussion group? By Monday August 3, please contact Ken Bencala.

The Book of Revelation: Visions for the Church in Crisis

The author of Kerygma: The Bible in Depth brings deep insight to a very challenging book. Studying Revelation in
context clarifies its message to an early church facing severe crisis. Its
relevance for today is not in prophetic visions, but in its affirmation of
victory and hope.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Please join us as we begin a NEW Discussion of the Books of
Jonah and Ruth in April.

We will read aloud from Jonah and Ruth, share our responses
with the group, and discuss application to our community following a guided
study (Kerygma Program - http://www.kerygma.com/ ).

Our meetings are twice per month on Tuesday evenings.
Interested in joining the discussions? Wish to know more about the discussion
group? By Monday March 2, please contact Ken Bencala < kenbnc@hotmail.com
> or 650-776-4984.

AN ODD COUPLE, JONAH & RUTH

Lessons for Our Fractured World

THE BOOKS:

A comedy, a romance, both with Old Testament
lessons for today!

Jonah shows the original readers of the book, as well
as us, what a picture of their bigotry and hatred of foreigners and enemies
looks like to God.

Ruth shows what life lived in performing deeds of hesed
looks like to us and to God.

JONAH

The book of
Jonah uses the character of an outrageous excuse of a prophet to show the
leaders and people of Judah just how foolish they looked with their insistence
on isolationism and the exclusion of "the other." It asks the
question, "If God loves the outsider, shouldn't we?"

4 Sessions

What Kind of Bible
Story is This?

The Adventures of Jonah

Nineveh at Last!

God Instructs God's People

RUTH

The book of
Ruth is an idealized story of what life would look like if God's people treated
each other with His loving-kindness—insiders and outsiders alike. A key
understanding in Ruth is that God uses these acts of the loving-kindness of
people to demonstrate that which God gives to all, whether they realize it or
not.5 Sessions